Vendors admit beating cop

CEBU, Philippines - The policeman who earlier claimed to have been beaten up by a group of unidentified persons he was trying to pacify at the downtown area over the weekend turns out to be involved in nefarious activity.

Contrary to Police Officer 3 Jackson Rivera’s claim, a group of traders engaged in selling second-hand cellular phones admitted to mauling the policeman and turned over his missing firearm to Police Regional Office-7 chief Ager Ontog.

Theft and Robbery Section chief Rolando Pinili said Rivera was mauled by the group of muslim vendors for trying to rob them of their goods. Pinili said Rivera, assigned at the provincial public safety company, has been misrepresenting as member of the TRS to get the cellular phone he wanted from the vendors without paying.

Rivera’s modus is to threaten the vendors with arrest for allegedly selling “stolen” items to force them to give the cellphone for free.

Before the incident last Saturday, a group of “muslim” vendors have already reported the alleged nefarious activity of a policeman claiming to be a member of the TRS.

In fact, Cebu City Intelligence Branch chief Romeo Santander has already conducted investigation on the matter.

Cebu Provincial Police Office chief Patroci-nio Comendador said Rivera will be investigated for abuse of authority. They will also leave the matter for the vendors to file a case for robbery against Rivera.

Pinili however said the vendors have already expressed no intention to file criminal complaint against Rivera.

Rivera earlier claimed to have been beaten up by a group of unidentified persons on Leon Kilat and Sanciangko Streets in Cebu City last Saturday evening. The melee resulted to the lost of his 9-millimeter service firearm.

According to Rivera, he was in the area to buy cellphone for his mother but his claim was found to be inconsistent with his report that he only had P20 in his wallet that was also taken from him by the group who mauled him. — (FREEMAN)